DISCLAIMER: I don't own the copyright of Star Wars and I just borrowed the title of a Korean film called "My Sassy Girl", only the last word was changed. No infringement here! Just pure, clean, fun! Ok, due to the inquiries of one reviewer, this fic was partly inspired by the Korean movie "My Sassy Girl" (just the title), bec. I think it fits Leia well. It's more inspired by a Korean romantic-comedy series entitled "Full House".
SUMMARY: It's back to business again. After the fight of Han with Leia, they all rushed to Hoth that afternoon to prepare for the big battle with the Storm Troopers. Leia tried to concentrate with the rebellion, but still, their feelings keep getting in the way.
CHAPTER XVI- Beautiful
No thanks to the fight they had that morning, throughout the rest of the day, Han and Leia weren't on speaking terms with each other. The bar incident weren't discussed further. That very day, they have to leave their apartelle, along with Luke, and fly immediately to Hoth to prepare for the battle with the Storm Troopers. The only words Leia uttered to Han were, "We have to leave immediately for Hoth and prepare for battle. Pack your things now."
"I will. Wait for me at the Falcon," Han replied, while doing his darndest best not to speak any more. I might hurt you again with the words I say, Princess.
A moment later, when the three of them boarded the Falcon, along with Chewbacca, R2D2, and C3PO, tense silence filled the entire atmosphere in the plane. During the whole duration of the trip, Han and Leia ignored each other as if they don't exist, and Luke tried to think of ways to break the gap between the two of them. He too, was affected with the way they acted towards each other. He nudged Chewie and asked him for suggestions on ways that he could make either the two of them talk, but Chewie just told him to keep silent to avoid further trouble.
"You're right, friend, less talk, less mistake," Luke replied to the wookie in a whisper.
Meanwhile, as Han flew the Falcon, he was lost in his thoughts. He remembered the day when he first rescued the Princess from the Death Star three years ago, and his first impression upon seeing her. He was with Luke that time, and they got along pretty well, even though Luke found him bossy. Leia was 19 at that time, and Han was surprised at the way she acted with authority and her ability to cope over the lost of her home planet. Such maturity was uncommon for a 19-year old girl. Add to that, her white dress and her hair, which was tied in buns along the sides of her head, made her look older. It made Han think, She's one type of girl whom I don't want to mess around with. Still, I'll try to tap into her humane side.
At the far corner of the Falcon, Leia sat by her self, also lost in her thoughts. She thought of the day she first met Han and Luke, and her first impression upon seeing Han was not so well. At first sight, she found Han scruffy-looking, a far cry from her dream guy. She liked Luke better though, and she knew she had a crush on him the first time she saw him, although her feelings for him died down as time passed by. She also remembered the time when General Rieekan asked Han to keep watch over the Princess by living with her, for security's sake.
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"WHAAT!" Han and Leia said in unison as they stared at each other with wide eyes upon hearing the news. "You want us to live with each other!" they exclaimed as they pointed at one another.
"Yes, you've heard that right," Gen. Rieekan smiled. "For security's sake, Solo, you have to keep watch over the Princess twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. She needs protection against would-be assassins and secret spies of the Empire."
"Doesn't she have bodyguards?" Han asked vehemently.
"We don't want to trust her with a complete stranger, and I think you would do the job well, Captain Solo," Mon Mothma chimed in.
Han and Leia looked at each other in horror. They already see each other everyday, and everyday, for the rest of the three years they've known each other, they've always gotten at each other's nerves. Han was annoyed at Leia because of her bossiness, uncontrollable temper, and her irritability, and Leia hated Han because of his cockiness and "I'm one gorgeous guy" demeanor. Now, they were asked to live under one roof day and night.
"Can't Luke do the job instead?" Han asked again.
"Luke will be very busy because he's scheduled to leave for Dagobah to train under the Jedi master, Yoda," Rieekan replied. "I've arranged a pad for you guys in one of the city apartelles. Tonight, you'll go there, and from now on, you'll live with each other."
Han's face painted an expression of complete dislike upon the offer. Still, he had no choice but to follow the General's orders. Sheesh, I'll have to deal with this bitchy princess 24/7, he thought in disgust. "Okay," he agreed, in a voice toned with apprehension. "But, can't you give me a manual entitled 'How To Deal with Leia Organa 24/7?'" he asked jokingly, and smiled at Leia in a cocky manner.
"Shut up you nerf!" Leia nudged Han strongly in the ribs. "Ow!" Han exclaimed. He glared at Leia, and she glared back at him.
"What did you said?" Rieekan asked.
"Oh nothing," Han smiled sheepishly. "I just think it'll be fun to live with Ice Princess" he mumbled, as Rieekan and Mon gave them the go-signal to leave the hall.
Oh great, I'll be stuck with this Nerf Herder, Leia thought, rolling her eyes.
Oh great, I'll be stuck with this bitch of a princess, Han thought, also rolling his eyes in disgust.
Both looked at each other, and at the same time, they stuck their tongues out.
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Those memories made Leia smile a little, remembering how childish they acted as they stuck their tongues out. At first, they really hated each other. If only I could bring back the days when we acted silly towards one another, she thought. But things are different now. Aside from the Rebellion, I have to deal with these newfound feelings towards Han. Love. Of all men, why do I have to fall in love with a nerf herder? She thought, dismayed. It was not funny anymore, considering how serious she felt towards him, even though he's annoying and everything. Maybe there's one thing I can do not to think about this too much, she thought. And that is, to concentrate more on the Rebellion and act as if he's not around.
Han was also thinking of the same thing.
Just act as if she's not around, he reprimanded himself. Forget your feelings for her, and get real!
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(The Next Day...)
Leia walked to the mess hall by herself. She was swamped with work regarding plans on battle, point of attack, and the number of troops who were going to participate. She tried so hard to focus on the Rebellion, but still, Han bothered her thoughts, and she found it hard to shake him off her mind. Much more, Han had bugged her to make up with him since the day they arrived at Hoth, and her office desk was filled with "I'm Sorry" note cards from Han. How corny, she thought, as she dumped the note cards in the trash bin underneath her table. She was kind of touched with this sweet gesture, but she believed Han was not sincere in doing this. After we made up, we'll be fighting again, she thought sadly. Her pride was eating her up, and it was one reason why she didn't want to make up with him. She wanted to forget her feelings, but the more she did, the more it drove her crazy.
Upon arriving at the mess hall, she saw Luke together with General Rieekan and Wedge, one of their comrades. She felt tempted to sit with them, but she sensed that they're having a good time, what with the way they were laughing so hard, so she decided to sit down further from them, but near enough so she could hear what they're talking about. She chose a place a table away from them. I don't want to bother their company, and they might talk about Han and I again. Here I go with my eavesdropper instincts, Leia thought, annoyingly amused at her gossipmonger side.
"I'm kind of nervous with the battle about to happen," Luke said.
Rieekan tapped him on the shoulder. "It's okay, Skywalker," he replied. "You'll make it through. After that, you're off to Dagobah."
"Don't worry, you have your inspiration in sight," Wedge smiled at him mischievously. Leia realized that he was referring to a girl Luke was crushing on. Who could that be? She wondered.
Luke's crush on the Princess was no secret among the group of friends. "What makes you crush on her anyway?" Wedge asked him.
"Oh," Luke trailed off dreamily, "She's a strong woman, a fighter, intelligent, and..." He stopped short for a while, "She's..." It was obvious that Luke was having a hard time saying to the other two that he found her pretty. Leia pressed her back harder on her seat, eager to hear what Luke will say. She realized that they were talking about her, and she was very flattered upon knowing that Luke was crushing on her. That took her mind off Han for a while.
"Say it!" Wedge and Rieekan exclaimed.
Luke took a deep breath. "She's beautiful." He blushed deeply as he said those words.
"Beautiful!" Wedge and Rieekan hooted teasingly at him. "Hey, you're in love!"
Leia could feel herself blush as she heard Luke say those words. He thinks I'm beautiful! She thought dreamily, very, very flattered. At that moment, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the universe.
"You'll be dead with Han once he finds out," Rieekan reprimanded him.
"Oh, come on, I'm not in love with Her Highnessness," Luke said. "Just a crush... and I've accepted that we can never be more than friends," he added.
"What makes you think so?" Wedge asked. "She and Han are not an item yet, and you're free to court her anytime you want."
"Nah, I don't think I can do that," Luke replied, shaking his head. "I leave her to Han, and I only care for her like she's my sister. At first, I was confused with my feelings, but thankfully, I got it all figured out. Just a crush, and nothing else more."
"Just a crush, huh?" Han happened to pass by their table and had overheard what Luke had said. The three grew silent upon hearing Han and his haughty tone, and Leia slumped back in her seat. Nerf Herder's here again, she thought.
Han glared at Luke, as if he was going to eat him alive. "Is it true that you're crushing on Ice Princess?" he asked, his voice sounding jealous like the way he did when he saw him the other day.
"Han, don't be so jealous. It's only a crush and..." Wedge trailed off.
"I kind of knew you and Leia are an item." Han said angrily as Rieekan motioned for him to sit next to him. He placed his lunch tray and glared at Luke dirtily.
"Nothing's going on between the two of us, I assure you," Luke said to Han matter-of-factly. "Why are you so angry at me? Maybe you've realized that..." Luke planned to tell Han about the feelings he was hiding.
"Don't you say that to me right in my face!" Han exclaimed, poised to punch Luke in the nose. But before he could do so, Luke grabbed hold of his closed fist and was able to stop him.
He looked at Han piercingly and said, "I never knew you could be such a coward, Captain Solo," he hissed. "I can't believe you don't have the guts to be man enough and tell her how you feel." With that, Luke stood up and went away. Wedge and Rieekan looked at each other, and with Han in their presence, they spoke no more about the issue.
Leia continued on with her meal, still unnoticed by Wedge and Rieekan, who was a table away from her, thankful that they didn't knew she was near to them. But Han did. She stood up and walked away, and Han saw her leaving. He excused himself for a while, and ran after Leia, who was walking at the corridor.
"Hey, wait up!" Han exclaimed. Leia turned to face him and gave him a dirty look.
"What do you want?" she asked bossily.
"I..." he stammered. "I think you've heard everything Luke had said about you."
"I did," she said, tilting her head sideways and raising an eyebrow at Han. "And I'm so happy he appreciates me better than you do."
Han felt offended with what she said. She was right. Han had never shown an inkling of appreciation towards her during the entire time they lived together.
Han just stood by and looked at her emptily. Leia frowned at him, saying, "What are you looking at me for?" she asked. "I thought you don't like staring at ugly girls like me."
He felt more offended when she added, "At least one person here thinks I'm the most beautiful woman he'd seen in his entire life, and that's Luke," she said, trying to sound like she was making Han annoyed. "Oh, by the way, I have to go now. I'll think of ways to make Luke ask me out. Bye." Leia said snootily, and she went off.
Han knew that Leia was saying it to make him jealous. And she was successful in doing so. Han felt his face burn with jealousy over Luke, and Leia was doing it on purpose. She seemed to be enjoying it. But it's also me to blame, Han thought to himself, as if trying to be consoled with the truth he knew. He never expected that the under-appreciated princess whom he lived with was the woman he'd be willing to give everything.
I've always thought you were ugly. But you're now the most beautiful woman for me, Han thought with honesty.
Because that's what she really is.
Beautiful.
A/N: As the song goes, "I don't want another pretty face, I don't want just anyone to hold, I don't want my love to go to waste, I want you and your beautiful soul..." ("Beautiful Soul" by Ryan Cabrera-did I got it right?) Mush overload again. (. ) This stanza from the song best describes this chapter. Han's just sour-graping by saying she's ugly, because of his inhibitions with his feelings towards her. Leia's pretty-ful, right fans:) Oh, I need help. In what movie did Luke learned about Leia being his twin sister? Is it ESB or ROTJ? Can you make my mind clear about this? Thanks a lot, and RR please! Stay tuned!